I think the confusing thing about Sharona is that while the actress who plays Natalie is just much better, when they made the change in actresses they also changed some other things. For instance, the number of episodes about Trudy’s death decreased, and Monk also became less open emotionally. I think these decisions made the emotional fate of the character less dramatically interesting, and he ended up being more a clown than a good person trapped in a neurosis by his emotional baggage. So it wasn’t that Sharona was better, it is just that you got more involved in the Monk character in those Sharona episodes.

I’m with you on everything you said! the petition!!!

and if they reallllllyyyy want to end the show at least end on season 10, afterall, its monks favorite number, nice and even and round! =)

If you dont like monk, then what do you like?????? geez

I hate to see it go, but it has had a good run.

I’ll miss Monk/Tony Shalhoub and the whole cast members. I was just telling colleagues how last week episode was great and they agreed with me.
It’s one of my favorites.

Monk was one of the best shows I have ever watched. Although I have to disagree with the people who say the character Sharona is better than Natalie. Sharona annoyed the living fuck out me. The way she acted bothered me. Natalie was just all round good character, I found it more enjoyable to watch.

….and don’t argue with me – they tried putting it a free network and it bombed in the ratings there too…

It’s NOT a funny show!!!

USA has been cleaning up, for sure, over the last few years with their other shows. I wonder what’s next for the channel.

I’ve been hearing about this for a long time. It seems the show is really expensive now with Shaloub’s salary. The good news is, they are giving us a full final season so the writers can end this the right way. There aren’t many shows I’d truly miss when they go away; this will be one of them. There’s really no other show that can make me laugh and tug on my heartstrings all at the same time.

I don’t mean to be a stick in the mud, but the show hasn’t been quite as sharp since Sharona left. Yeah, I know, shows move on, the actress wanted too much money, don’t live in the past, blah blah blah. I don’t care, I still miss her. They’ve tried hard with Natalie, but her personality just isn’t as much fun, and the writing for her isn’t as good. (I caught an old episode on a plane trip recently and was forcibly reminded of the contrast.)

I would like to state for the record, though, that as one who heard the collective wailing and gnashing of teeth on the show’s message boards when the music was changed, I still prefer the new theme.

Well, here’s hoping for a satisfactory solution to Trudy’s murder.